Rule Change

• Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), and nine colleagues sent a formal letter to OMB Director Russ Vought demanding the reversal of a proposed federal regulation. • The lawmakers argue that the proposed rule change would negatively impact American science, research, and innovation by creating restrictive political barriers. • This action matters because the senators believe the rule could lead to the loss of American jobs and the exportation of domestic innovation due to "partisan games."

• The ruling Democratic Party of Korea has approved a contentious change to its national convention rules despite ongoing internal infighting. • The party will now implement a ranked-choice voting system to elect its new leader during the upcoming convention in August. • This rule change is significant as it alters the mechanism for leadership selection, potentially shifting the power dynamics within the party.

Collegiate sports organization led by Charlie Baker banned trans athletes from women’s sports after 2025 Trump orderThe president of the US’s top administrator of collegiate sports on Sunday said his organization does not anticipate adjusting its rules on transgender athletes after a recent federal supreme court decision allowed states to ban them from participating in school athletics.In an interview with CBS News’ Face the Nation, Charlie Baker, the NCAA president, alluded to how his organization in late January 2025 had effectively banned transgender athletes from women’s sports by closing off those programs to athletes who were assigned male at birth or were taking testosterone therapy. There are no restrictions for participation in NCAA men’s sports, which Baker referred to on Sunday as “the open network”. Continue reading...

Brexit means ‘home fee’ qualification ends in 2028, leaving those hoping to study in UK not now eligible for loansBritish teenagers living in the EU could be priced out of UK universities in two years’ time as a Brexit rule change means they face the double whammy of paying costlier international fees, while losing access to student finance.British passport holders living in the EU still qualify for “home fee” status at UK universities. But this will no longer be the case when the grace period ends in 2028, meaning the first wave to be affected are starting their A-levels, or equivalent, this autumn. Continue reading...

• Wembley Stadium has announced a rule change for Harry Styles' upcoming concerts to protect fans during an extreme UK heatwave. • London is bracing for record-breaking temperatures this week, with forecasts predicting highs of 38 to 39 degrees Celsius. • The policy adjustment aims to ensure attendee safety and prevent heat-related illnesses during the high-profile performances.

• Former President Donald Trump is reportedly developing a "Plan C" strategy to alter election rules after facing multiple courtroom losses. • This new approach follows the failure of the SAVE America Act, which has been deemed effectively dead as a viable legislative path. • The shift in tactics highlights the administration's ongoing efforts to challenge election protocols despite significant legal setbacks.

• Wembley Stadium is relaxing its standard water restrictions for upcoming Harry Styles concerts to protect fans during a forecast UK heatwave. • The rule change allows attendees to bring more water into the venue than typically permitted to prevent dehydration in the scorching temperatures. • This measure is a critical safety response to ensure public health and wellbeing during high-profile events held in extreme weather conditions.

Exclusive: Sources say Defra drafted policy on livestock fails to distinguish between ponies and sheepNatural England and MPs are urging the government to change its livestock rules to stop ponies on Dartmoor from being culled.Semi-wild ponies have roamed Dartmoor for more than 4,000 years and have become uniquely suited to the boggy landscape, providing a charming sight for those who visit the national park. Continue reading...

Bookies’ favourite to replace Keir Starmer tones down stance on government borrowing to assuage City investorsUK politics live – latest updatesAndy Burnham has always faced a narrow path to replace Keir Starmer as prime minister: a tricky byelection, a leadership contest that is yet to be declared, and a far from constructive bond market backdrop.In making his pitch, assuaging City investors in particular has led the Greater Manchester mayor to dance on a pin. Continue reading...

Previously prohibited use of websites such as Omoggle that connect a streamer to a stranger’s video feed now allowed Last week, at 4am, 19-year-old Sammy Amz was scrolling through X when something caught his eye: a popular Twitch streamer was competing in a 1v1 “mog-off” with a stranger, and losing.The next day he opened the Omoggle gaming website and began to play. Quickly he matched with another user – green dots appeared on their faces onscreen, as the website began to compare their measurements: canthal tilt, palpebral fissure ratio, nose-to-face width ratio and so on. Continue reading...

Shabana Mahmood has announced plan to cut leave to remain to 30 months, to concern of UN’s refugee agencyTwo Sudanese asylum seekers are challenging a key element of Labour’s plans to strip refugees of basic rights, rejecting the home secretary’s accusation that they are “asylum shoppers”.Shabana Mahmood has announced plans to halve refugees’ leave to remain in the UK from five years to 30 months, while refugees will have to wait 20 years before being eligible for permanent stay in the UK. Previously, people could apply for permanent settlement after five years. Continue reading...

Union says new entitlements, part of Employment Rights Act 2025, will help lower-income householdsUp to 9.6 million UK workers are to benefit from the changes to sick pay rules, according to unions. They say the policy has widespread support from voters despite pushback from some businesses.From Monday, about 8.4 million workers who rely on statutory sick pay – the minimum amount employers must pay – will be paid from the first day of becoming ill rather than from day four, according to an analysis by the Trades Union Congress (TUC). Continue reading...

S&P Dow Jones Indices proposed updates to its inclusion criteria on March 13, 2026, potentially allowing SpaceX to join the S&P 500 shortly after its anticipated IPO. The revisions aim to accommodate high-valuation tech firms by relaxing profitability thresholds, reflecting SpaceX's $350 billion valuation and Starship milestones. This development could boost SpaceX's liquidity and investor access, signaling Wall Street's embrace of space tech amid AI and satellite growth. Final rules are expected by Q2 2026, with SpaceX IPO targeted for late 2026.

Major updates to the 340B Drug Pricing Program, announced week of March 8-14, introduce new compliance risks and responsibilities for provider organizations. Changes aim to refine eligibility and auditing amid ongoing legal battles. Hospitals must review contracts to avoid penalties. The reforms seek to enhance program integrity while supporting safety-net access to discounted drugs.